A functional alcoholic is also tricky to recognize because they tend to be secretive about their drinking levels and habits. People who have high-functioning alcoholism think that because they can hold down a job and maintain their relationships, they don’t have a problem. They are more likely not to accept help or admit that they need help, and usually, only people who are very close to them will realize the high-functioning alcoholic has a disorder. Certain factors may increase your risk of developing an alcohol problem. Binge drinking, social pressures, family history, mental health issues, and excess alcohol use can all increase your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. The term «functional alcoholic» is heavily debated in the addiction community, but it’s part of the social vernacular so it’s valuable to discuss the common misconceptions.

Because alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous – and even kill you – make sure you have medical advice from your doctor or a rehab facility when you decide to stop drinking. If it’s time to seek help,contact usto learn about our treatment approach and facilities. We have a long history of providing successful substance abuse treatment at our Palmer Lake, high functioning alcoholic Colorado facilities. At some point, a high-functioning alcoholic has tried to quit drinking but failed in their attempt. This pattern is often repeated, and you may notice that they go through periods where they drink heavily and then make an attempt to quit. Even though they continuously go through this cycle, they still refuse to seek treatment.

The Power Of Denial: Why High-Functioning Alcoholics Resist Treatment

Their professional status or personal success can make it hard to approach them about having a “problem” with alcohol. A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who habitually drinks an unhealthy amount of alcohol while maintaining some level of professional and personal success. According to a government survey, about 20% of alcoholics in America are high-functioning alcoholics. Many of them are successful at work and at home, and sometimes their friends and family don’t even know that they have a problem. Often people think of an alcoholic as an individual whose life is falling apart.

• Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
• Even though functional alcoholics’ lives seem to be together, the harm can happen fast or gradually.
• While the term «alcoholic» was used in the past but is now viewed as outdated and stigmatizing.
• In addition, there were almost 50,000 other alcohol-related deaths.
• One of the most famous classic Hollywood stars, Elizabeth Taylor spent over three decades of her career addicted to alcohol and painkillers.

This can lead to denial of alcoholism by the HFA, co-workers, family members, and friends. Functional alcoholics account for 19.5 percent of total U.S. alcoholics, with 50 percent also being smokers and 33 percent having a multigenerational family history of alcoholism. Statistics from the Harvard School of Public Health indicated that 31 percent of college students show signs of alcohol abuse and 6 percent are dependent on alcohol. Doctors hope that the new definition will help identify severe cases of alcoholism early, rather than when the problem is fully developed.

Imposes limits on drinking

You shouldn’t drink as a way to cope with a stressful situation or sad emotions. There are definite patterns and behaviors that indicate a growing addiction. It isn’t unusual for them to be unable to recall what happened while they were drinking.

A substance abuse counselor, family therapist or spiritual advisor may also attend to provide an objective presence and keep the agenda on track. If the consequences of high-functioning alcoholism have become overwhelming, and your loved onerefuses to seek help for alcohol abuse, it could be time to plan an intervention. An intervention is a planned meeting in which the concerned parties confront the alcoholic about their behavior. Consciously or unconsciously, the codependent may help the alcoholic to continue drinking to maintain the status quo. Many high-functioning alcoholics earn a good living and can support their families while continuing to drink. Intervening in the addictive behavior may be seen as a threat to the family’s financial security — even if the family must put up with emotional neglect or physical abuse. Bureau of Justice Statisticsnoted that nearly 60% of violent incidents against a domestic partner or family member were committed under the influence of alcohol.

What is the difference between high-functioning alcoholism and alcohol use disorder?

The most in-depth care allows you to live full time at a treatment facility. These setups can also work along with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Relating to other people with substance abuse issues may help someone break through denial and begin to recover. Did you know drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion a year? In reality, a high-functioning alcoholic may be experiencing a great deal of stress while they maintain their drinking and all the dressings of a socially accepted lifestyle. So the appearance of functioning may be carefully manufactured to keep theiralcohol use disorder unchecked and unaddressed. So it becomes difficult to ascertain the true relationship that they have with alcohol.